Encephalartos paucidentatus brown stem top

These young Encephalartos paucidentatus leaves bear evidence of vigorous growth on a healthy plant. Seen from below, i.e. the outer, lower or its abaxial surface, a leaflet of this cycad shows prominent longitudinal ridges; not close up enough in the photo to be visible, unfortunately. These ridges are parallel veins, distinctive as an identifier of the species.

The brown stem top visible at the bottom in the picture is still short on this plant growing in Kirstenbosch. Stems become up to 6 m tall, from 40 cm to 70 cm in diameter.

E. paucidentatus is a forest species, thriving and growing fast in some shade on rocky slopes.

The species is related to E. heenanii (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Hugo, 2014; www.plantzafrica.com).